Quantum Mechanics: A Conceptual Approach

✍ Scribed by Hendrik F. Hameka

• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 209
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

A unique introductory text on quantum mechanics, from basic principles to historical perspective. Includes description of the historical developments that led to the discovery of QM, often left out of other textbooks. Emphasizes basic concepts that were essential in this discovery, placing them in context and making them more understandable to students. Written in an easy-to-understand style and assuming no prior knowledge of the topic, this book provides a solid foundation for future study of quantum chemistry. Includes problem sets for student use.

✦ Table of Contents

QUANTUM MECHANICS......Page 4
CONTENTS......Page 10
Preface......Page 14
I Introduction......Page 16
II Planck and Quantization......Page 18
III Bohr and the Hydrogen Atom......Page 22
IV Matrix Mechanics......Page 26
V The Uncertainty Relations......Page 28
VI Wave Mechanics......Page 29
VII The Final Touches of Quantum Mechanics......Page 35
VIII Concluding Remarks......Page 37
I Introduction......Page 38
II Differential Equations......Page 39
III Kummer’s Function......Page 40
IV Matrices......Page 42
V Permutations......Page 45
VI Determinants......Page 46
VII Properties of Determinants......Page 47
VIII Linear Equations and Eigenvalues......Page 50
IX Problems......Page 52
I Introduction......Page 54
II Vectors and Vector Fields......Page 55
III Hamiltonian Mechanics......Page 58
IV The Classical Harmonic Oscillator......Page 59
V Angular Momentum......Page 60
VI Polar Coordinates......Page 64
VII Problems......Page 66
I Introduction......Page 67
II The Mathematics of Plane Waves......Page 68
III The Schrödinger Equation of a Free Particle......Page 69
IV The Interpretation of the Wave Function......Page 71
V Wave Packets......Page 73
VII Problems......Page 77
I Introduction......Page 79
II Operators......Page 81
III The Particle in a Box......Page 83
IV Concluding Remarks......Page 86
V Problems......Page 87
II A Particle in a Finite Box......Page 88
III Tunneling......Page 93
IV The Harmonic Oscillator......Page 96
V Problems......Page 102
I Introduction......Page 103
II Commuting Operators......Page 104
III Commutation Relations of the Angular Momentum......Page 105
IV The Rigid Rotor......Page 106
V Eigenfunctions of the Angular Momentum......Page 108
VII Problems......Page 111
I Introduction......Page 113
II Solving the Schrödinger Equation......Page 114
III Deriving the Energy Eigenvalues......Page 116
IV The Behavior of the Eigenfunctions......Page 118
V Problems......Page 121
I Introduction......Page 123
II The Variational Principle......Page 124
III Applications of the Variational Principle......Page 126
IV Perturbation Theory for a Nondegenerate State......Page 128
V The Stark Effect of the Hydrogen Atom......Page 131
VI Perturbation Theory for Degenerate States......Page 134
VIII Problems......Page 135
I Introduction......Page 137
II Experimental Developments......Page 138
III Pauli’s Exclusion Principle......Page 141
IV The Discovery of the Electron Spin......Page 142
V The Mathematical Description of the Electron Spin......Page 144
VI The Exclusion Principle Revisited......Page 147
VII Two-Electron Systems......Page 148
VIII The Helium Atom......Page 150
IX The Helium Atom Orbitals......Page 153
X Concluding Remarks......Page 154
XI Problems......Page 155
I Introduction......Page 157
II Atomic and Molecular Wave Function......Page 160
III The Hartree-Fock Method......Page 161
IV Slater Orbitals......Page 167
V Multiplet Theory......Page 169
VII Problems......Page 173
I Introduction......Page 175
II The Born-Oppenheimer Approximation......Page 176
III Nuclear Motion of Diatomic Molecules......Page 179
IV The Hydrogen Molecular Ion......Page 184
V The Hydrogen Molecule......Page 188
VI The Chemical Bond......Page 191
VII The Structures of Some Simple Polyatomic Molecules......Page 194
VIII The Hückel Molecular Orbital Method......Page 198
IX Problems......Page 204
Index......Page 206